FASHION, ACCESSORIES, SWAPPING!

“Everyday I wake up and I thank God for my unique ability to accessorize.”   

This inspiring quote is from a postcard the late Stanley DeSantis sent me ages ago. I keep it right above my computer as a lovely reminder of how important accessories are to every wardrobe. These days, I’m pretty focused on accessories since I’m 3 weeks into a shopping-from-my-closet ONLY fashion experiment. Accessorizing is vital.

Accordingly, I recently attended a fabulous fashion event called the ThinkThruFashion Accessory Swap Soiree at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills. The event was put on by Sydne Summer, ThinkThruFashion’s Editor-in-Chief, in celebration of 6 months of her ttF Fashion Staple Series. I’ve been following Sydne AKA @SydneSummer on Twitter for awhile now and find her tweets, links, and twitpics seriously engaging. It was fun to finally meet this Twitter fashion expert in person! 

photo by Felix Salzman

In addition to the swap, Michael Stars had a pop-up shop in one of the poolside cabanas featuring a summer sale of their ultra-luxe cotton pieces. I have a major love affair with high-quality cotton and could have picked up so many of the Michael Stars tops (at great prices!!) but alas, I’m committed to 6 months of no shopping . . . only swapping!

For the swap portion of the event, each attendee was instructed to bring 3-5 accessories that she wanted to swap out. You would turn in your items and receive either a gold (luxe) or silver (chic) star for each item. I ended up with 3 gold and 2 silver stars, so off to the accessory table I went – my stars as currency.

In exchange for my Betsey Johnson sunglasses, 2 bangles, a black bauble necklace, and large green-stoned necklace from the Tori Spelling Collection (yes, you read that right . . .) I got some great booty! I selected a dainty yet weighty gold necklace that I’ve earmarked for my cousin’s September wedding, a neutral 2-toned scarf, and 3 bangle bracelets; one of which was exactly the same as one of the bangles I turned in, except that now I have it in a bright yellow. I’m super happy with my “shopping” experience, though I wish I had cashed in a little earlier, as one of my fellow fashionistas landed a L.A.M.B. watch! 

photo by Ray Wongchinda

Fashion events, without fail, always have the best gift bags. This one topped just about any swag bag I’ve ever gone home with:

·      High-waisted cotton bloomers by American Apparel (looooove!)

·      An adorable sleep mask by Bedhead Pajamas

·      Haircare by Unite Eurotherapy

·      A fab make-up kit that includes 5 eye-shadows, lip gloss, and eyeliner by NYX

·      Anti-aging serum by Bellanue (can’t get enough anti-aging products!)

·      A Style Network emery board

·      Tanning lotion by Beautisol

·      PaperTweet by Knock Knock Nifty Notes (hilarious notepad for us Twitterbugs)

·      Pro Active oil blotters, compliments of Queen of the Quarter-Life Crisis

·      Certificate for a treatment at DERMALOGICA (my favorite!!!!)

Additionally, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics reps were on hand for touch ups and were giving out full sized lipsticks. Mariska Hargitay’s The Joyful Heart Foundation was the big winner of the night, as there was a benefit raffle that helped raise over $2,000 for the organization which supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. I was happy to purchase a raffle ticket and give money to such a needed organization and was even happier when I won a eco-friendly Hemptress bag!

Although it’s fun & fabulous to attend fashion events with amazing people, swapping is something we can all do on our own, with our own group of friends. I’ve attended various swaps – sometimes with just a few girlfriends; sometimes they’re highly organized with 50+ attendees! No matter the size, you’re bound to find a few items that work with your current wardrobe. To me, swaps are an essential part of closet organization because not only do you get to take home your best friend’s sweater/wrap dress/hat that you’ve been coveting, you have the opportunity to get rid of your own closet clutter. For more on de-cluttering your closet, check out the Wardrobe Consultation under Services at www.soignee-la.com.

Happy swapping and accessorizing!

GROUND RULES & THE FASHION EVENT THAT FOLLOWS THEM

So far, so good! I have successfully gone 3 weeks without buying a stitch of clothing. Yes, there have been temptations. In fact, there was one major (major!) temptation; the Spring/Summer Sale event* at designer Eva Franco’s studio in downtown LA this past weekend. Eva Franco is one of my favorite designers for her fabrics, style and fit. Her clothes are amazing for all occasions and I knew a sale at her studio (where she has EVERYTHING) would be too risky for my experiment. Sorry Eva!

*side note: Soignee Personal Shopping will be hosting a Fall Sale Event at Eva Franco and you’re all invited! www.evafranco.com

I’ve established some ground rules for myself for these next 5 ¾ months . . .

Obviously I can’t go on for 6 whole months with absolutely no new wardrobe updates. So, I’m not buying any clothes – no event dresses, no new sweaters come winter, no new jeans, etc. However, I am not denying myself shoes and accessories. Come on, I have to! Not buying clothes for 6 months is huge for me. Because I am very much into style, I still want to be able to update my wardrobe, so I'm allowing myself to purchase shoes and accessories. I might die without these.

And, on Monday, July 19^th, there is an event that is tailor-made for me! Think Thru Fashion’s Accessory Swap promises to be an amazing fashion experience. I won’t be able to stock up in the Michael Stars pop-up shop, but I will hopefully swap out some of my accessories for some new & fabulous ones. www.thinkthrufashion.com 

Now, what accessories should I bring to give away? I’m thinking that I’ll bring some sunglasses that didn’t turn out to fit my face as well as I thought. Also, I do have this really cool black necklace made of large baubles. It’s rad, but I’m willing to part with it. I won’t be able to part with any of my scarves, so I’m thinking a couple pairs of sunglasses and the black bauble necklace.

I’ll be covering the TTFashion Swap for Soignee-LA, so stay tuned for a full report!

An Experiment in Fashion

SHOPPING IN YOUR OWN CLOSET

One of the best jobs I get as a personal shopper is a call for a closet overhaul. First of all, it’s so much fun to go through someone’s closet and clear it of the excess; the outdated, the inappropriate, and the just plain bad. As you can imagine, it’s a lot easier to clean out someone else’s closet than your own since you have no emotional ties to any of the items (“But I wore that to so and so’s fraternity formal!” . . . “Um, that was 12 years ago . . .”)

Once you clean out a client’s closet, the fun continues when you put together fresh, new ensembles out of what they have left. You’d be surprised at how many new outfits you can put together once all the unwearables are removed. Usually, with just a few classic staples added to a wardrobe, you can inexpensively create several new ensembles from what’s already there. Some magazines will have you think that you need a whole new wardrobe for every season. That’s just not true! Sometimes you just need a fresh take on what you already have. I’m hoping that’s going to work for me as I embark on this new fashion journey . . .

FASHION EXPERIMENTATION

Confessions of a Shopaholic; a great book and the story of my life. I’ll admit, I’ve accrued way too much credit card debt ALL due to my habitual shopping. Can’t help it! I love fashion! However, I have decided that as of July 1st, I will not purchase any clothing for at least 6 months. Yikes, I know! I am nervous, but genuinely excited about the whole experimental aspect of it all.

WHY?!

Several months ago, I came across a blog by a fashionista in Nashville who was doing a similar experiment (I’ve not since been able to find that blog, otherwise I’d give her the props she deserves. When I track it down, I promise to give her credit!) Anyway, she is much more brave than I am because she has given up shopping for a full year. I simply can’t commit to that much time, but I was inspired. If I feel comfortable on February 1 to extend my experiment, I definitely will (I think it would be cool to experience a full seasonal fashion cycle,) but for now I can only deny myself for 6 months. Additionally, I’m hoping to save a lot of $$ and cut down my debt. That’s a pretty great reason, IMO (and in my husband’s opinion . . .)

AM I READY?

I actually have a pretty solid wardrobe – would you expect anything less from a professional shopper? I’ve got like 30+ dresses, and tons of tops and pants in a variety of fits and styles. I just can’t gain or lose any weight, which shouldn’t be a problem since I forbid my body to gain 5 lbs, and frankly, my body forbids me to lose 5 lbs.


I did have to stock up on a few things. I hit the Gap for some classic "Long and Lean" jeans-always a perfect fit. I already have plenty of skinny jeans; high and low end, so I just needed a couple of classic fits. I also picked up a pair of white jeans, which can be so versatile. Can’t go 6 months without them so I had to pick up a couple pairs of black leggings. They are a personal staple and style-wise they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

And the day is not over. I can totally hit the stores before midnight, right? 2nd Street in Little Tokyo has several cute shops: No. A, Kimski Vintage, and one of my all time favorites, American Apparel. I may just have to make a stop on my way home (it's not cheating!)

Well, here goes . . .

Summer nights are upon us! And darkness . . .

One of my new favorite hobbies is putting together total looks at Polyvore. So fun!!!

It's hot out and you want to hit the town. Dress up your comfy denim cutoffs with some super high heels, hearts, floral, and bling. Now you're hot.

"Oh, Oh, Oh, those summer nights!" by sassy803 featuring Fendi bags

Items in this set:
Marc Jacobs Silk-twill heart top, $195
CELEBRITY PINK Raw Edge Womens Shorts, $20
Azzedine Ala?a Python Skin Platforms with Knot Detail, 1,275 GBP
Peekaboo python medium tote, $5,360
Dyrberg/Kern Buhoma Braided Gold Bangle, 90 GBP

On the darker side, here is a look that is eerie yet romantic. Very Twilight. I envision this girl running through these woods, pursued by a sexy vampire. She's caught and gives in to the passion. The strapless dress is key for ideal neck exposure.

So Twilight-y by SoigneeLA featuring Notte by Marchesa dresses

Items in this set:
Ruffle silk-blend mini dress, $795
Combat Boot, $495
Silver Rose Corsage, 29 GBP
Maison Michel Hat Pete Studs, 600 EUR
hats & scarves | Womens Autumn Winter Fashion Tops Dresses Shoes..., 50 AUD

Summer Necessities

Here's what Soignee is really into for summer . . .

1. Fun, fun, fun prints! I'm in love with the whimsy of stars, hearts, and polka-dots. They make me think of a favorite sweater of mine that I had when I was in the 4th grade; it had a stripe of rainbow hearts across the chest and I adored it. Now that I'm (a little bit) older, I'm still loving the concept, but light, modern, sexy/flirty.

Hearts Galore

2. Leggings are hanging in there and all I can say is Thank God. I am so grateful for my leggings - black and gray are my staples. They are so comfortable, so slimming, and totally work with nearly everything in my closet!

3. I have never loved a brooch until I saw this Tiffany:   Now, this is an investment ($8400!) but imagine your granddaughter's eyes welling up as you pass this gorgeous piece onto her; probably at her wedding. A treasure.








5. Baggy jean shorts. I'm super excited about a DIY project that I'm about to embark on (before & after photos soon!) I obtained a free pair of Levi's that are too big, but will make for really awesome baggy jean shorts for the summer. I'm going to break out the rubberbands and a bucket of Clorox and create my own tie-dyed denim! Nothing better than virtually free fashion . . .

This is what I'm copying. Pretty cool!

6. A maxi dress is seriously, the most flattering thing you can put on. They cover so much of what most of us want covered! You know, tummy, hips, thighs . . . You'll look taller and thinner - what's not to like? Pair them with a great pair of wedges (add height!) and you're good to go for brunch, shopping, or even an outdoor wedding. Got this beauty from Piperlime:

7. And, speaking of wedges, get some! A wedge sandal in a gorgeous soft leather will serve you well with dresses, shorts and business wear. I LOVE these:

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Beauty on a Budget

Step Up Women's Network, a women's organization that I am a member of and love (more on that later,) has an incredible mentorship program. I had the opportunity to participate in this program last year and had the best mentor ever, beauty & fashion guru, Nina Sutton. Nina is now the beauty spokeswoman for Walmart.com, and here, in her own words, is the beauty scoop:

Nina Sutton

I want to share an exciting project that I have been working on! I am the new Beauty Host/Expert of Pretty.Smart- a beauty show on Walmart.com and potentially in every Walmart store (in the beauty aisles). It is exciting to work with the world's largest retailer and talk about the biggest beauty brands in the world!!!!

http://see.walmart.com/prettysmart/

I give my easy and budget-friendly beauty tips for women everywhere (especially moms). This month is all about Fragrance, and each month there will be a new topic. Note- these are all my tips, and I have personally written all of them for the show- and each month I will be giving more on haircare, easy makeup, skincare, bodycare, etc.

Please watch and share Nina's videos. She's a total pro and your friends will thank you!

Props for Soignee Personal Shopping

I'm just going to toot my own horn here with some of my recommendations on Linked In. You can see my Linked In profile here. 

Each of these quotes came from someone I've worked directly with on personal shopping/styling projects; everything from 1-on-1 personal shopping to special event and professional services.

“I recently had the pleasure to see Sarah in action. I told her about my fashion reservations and what sort of goals I was working towards and she provided some great suggestions and solutions. Lets not forget the wonderful fashion connections and deals she is privy too! I would recommend Sarah's work any day!”

“Love her commitment to detail”  

“In the many years I have known Sarah, I have had the priviledge in working with her on many levels. The common thread that connects all is her exquisite attention to detail, her exceptional intelligence, and her care and concern she puts into evrything she tackles. Facing insurmountable odds on several projects, she always has managed to make it spectacular, due to her work ethic, pride, and attention to detail. I highly recommend her and see nothing but grand success for all she attempts!”

“Sarah is creative, open to your likes/dislikes, willing to put the best outfit on you for any occasion. My first experience with Sarah was amazing. I got two outfits for job interviews. I got a second interview at SPE partially because of my appearance which says a lot about Sarah's skills. She kept it professional and trendy. I would recommend her for any occasion because she will make sure you look your best.”

“Sarah is the most chic professional I know! She is a great resource for all things fashionable, from housewares to shoes; and a pleasure to work with.”

“Whether it's a deadline that's looming or a problem that you can't figure out a solution to, Sarah has always been a tremendous person to have in your court. Without a sign of stress, she pulls off amazing events in style. She's such a creative and calm force that anyone should be honored to work with her!”

On a side note, here's a fantastic dress for a spring/summer wedding. Designed by Eva Franco - a Soignee favorite!